Donald G. Macpherson is the CEO of W.W. Grainger, Inc., a role he has held since October 1, 2016, after being the Chief Operating Officer. He has been with the company for several years, rapidly moving through crucial leadership roles...

Donald G. Macpherson is the CEO of W.W. Grainger, Inc., a role he has held since October 1, 2016, after being the Chief Operating Officer. He has been with the company for several years, rapidly moving through crucial leadership roles since 2008, mainly in supply chain management. His expertise in operations has been a key strength for Grainger, particularly as they navigate challenges in a competitive market. In 2023, he earned a total compensation of approximately $10.2 million, primarily from vested stock awards, reflecting a compensation strategy linked to overall company performance. One striking aspect of his recent activities includes a significant increase in the value of his company’s shares. In the last few years, Macpherson’s stock holdings surged substantially, from about $25.9 million in September 2019 to over $97.1 million by December 2024. This growth happened alongside his commitment to driving Grainger's long-term goals, focusing on strategies that prioritize sustainable growth.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other W.W. Grainger CEOs

W

Donald G. Macpherson

CEO of W.W. Grainger

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Industrials

CEO of W.W. Grainger for

8 years 6 months (Oct 2016 - Present)

Previous Experience

Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President and Group President, Global Supply Chain and International.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Donald G. Macpherson

H

Gerben W. Bakker

CEO of Hubbell

2022 Compensation

Stock

$1.18M

Salary

$1.03M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$283.94K

Total Holdings

$25.05M

G

Mark W. Sheahan

CEO of Graco

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$985.00K

Bonus

$1.30M

Other

$26.76K

Total Holdings

$6.90M

M

Erik Gershwind

CEO of MSC Industrial Direct Co.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$825.45K

Bonus

$826.58K

Other

$26.15K

Total Holdings

$125.07M

L

Christopher L. Mapes

CEO of Lincoln Electric Holdings

2023 Compensation

Stock

$2.59M

Salary

$1.11M

Bonus

$2.78M

Other

$320.35K

Total Holdings

$21.65M

A

David A. Zapico

CEO of Ametek

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.36M

Bonus

$788.80K

Other

$566.38K

Total Holdings

$70.27M

Holdings

See how much did Donald G. Macpherson make over time.

Donald G. Macpherson's insider trading activities show a remarkable increase in his stock holdings at W.W. Grainger. Starting with $25.9 million in September 2019, his wealth in company stock climbed steadily, reaching $97.1 million by December 2024. This growth is...

Donald G. Macpherson's insider trading activities show a remarkable increase in his stock holdings at W.W. Grainger. Starting with $25.9 million in September 2019, his wealth in company stock climbed steadily, reaching $97.1 million by December 2024. This growth is not just a coincidence but ties directly to Grainger's performance and his leadership. The consistent appreciation in stock value highlights not just his alignment with the company's success, but also confidence in the company's future strategy. Macpherson's major holdings peaked around mid-2023, shortly after a series of strong quarterly results that bolstered investor sentiment and resulted in a notable stock price increase.

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Total Stock Sold

$134.54M

GWW

$134.54M

254,585 GWW shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Donald G. Macpherson didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra GWW254,585 shares worth $65.67M.
This is -51.19% and $68.87M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Donald G. Macpherson.

GWW

$13.49M

GWW at $1.04K/share

Sep 30, 2024

Sale

GWW

$27.47M

GWW at $998.82/share

Sep 16, 2024

Sale

GWW

11,410 shares

GWW

Apr 1, 2024

Received

GWW

$3.91M

GWW at $788.13/share

Nov 28, 2023

Sale

GWW

8,896 shares

GWW

Oct 1, 2023

Received

GWW

16,128 shares

GWW

Apr 1, 2023

Received

GWW

$34.08M

GWW at $693.80/share

Mar 3, 2023

Sale

GWW

$8.61M

GWW at $599.09/share

Dec 2, 2022

Sale

GWW

$6.03M

GWW at $491.53/share

May 2, 2022

Sale

GWW

15,885 shares

GWW

Apr 1, 2022

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Donald G. Macpherson make over time.

In 2023, Donald G. Macpherson received a total compensation package of approximately $10.2 million. This figure includes a base salary of $1.1 million and a substantial $6.6 million from vested stock awards. Notably, there was no cash bonus that year, showing a shift in compensation strategies towards long-term performance rewards. Over the years, his pay has reflected the company's financial health and success, particularly his ability to drive sales growth and maintain strong returns on invested capital. This compensation model is structured to align closely with his performance as CEO, encouraging him to focus on Grainger’s sustainable growth over time.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$8.05M

Salary

$1.10M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is designed to align executive pay with the company's performance and shareholder interests, focusing on long-term value creation.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonus was awarded for 2023.

Other

$317.29K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes contributions to retirement plans and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$6.63M(6.63M RSU)

Board Justification

The stock awards vested in 2023 were based on performance metrics established in prior years, specifically linked to the company's long-term performance goals.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2023 included total Company daily, organic constant currency sales growth and total Company adjusted ROIC.

Other W.W. Grainger CEOs

Here are other CEOs of W.W. Grainger

James T. Ryan

Ex-CEO of W.W. Grainger

June 2008 - October 2017

Deidra C. Merriwether

CEO of W.W. Grainger

January 2021 - Present